Axis History Forum

This is an apolitical forum for discussions on the Axis nations and related topics hosted by the Axis History Factbook in cooperation with Christian Ankerstjerne’s Panzerworld and Christoph Awender's WW2 day by day.
Founded in 1999.

Some people believe that the MP40 was given by a Yugoslavian museum in 1980s, but an article from a famous Chinese magazine "Smallarms"(《轻兵器》) claims that the MP40 was captured by the PLA during Chinese Civil War. No further information on the other weapons mentioned. On a number of Chinese forums, people have discussed on this topic many times but no one can actually solve the mystery.However, I have seen a KMT document photo taken in late 1940s shows a MG34, so I believe NRA did possess a number of MG34.

To get a better read on this subject, check out "Mauser backbone of the Wehrmact" by I believe Richard law,he mentions an incident around 40-41 with Madam Kai-sheck who convinced them to assemble rejected (but functional) Mauser parts into working rifles.Since the standard caliber used by the nationalist Chinese was 7.92x57 its no surprise that the mg34/42 was used (42 was likely a postwar addition) as a matter of point although the Chinese could and did produce Mausers combat attrition would have put a serious strain on domestic production. as for the mp44, who knows, not wartime,Germany was in no condition to be giving badly needed weapons to anybody, postwar on the other hand Europe was awash with small arms and no dought smuggled/sold to whoever had the cash(lookup Israil circa 45-50, Yow!). then if your really feeling it,check out the Chinese and the c96 Mauser. as for the political situation between Japan&Germany thats a book in itself. ..have fun .

Another two possible explainations of late-war German weapons in Chinese museums: 1: Recently I read an Chinese article which said that about 400000 or 500000 small arms and 2000 pieces of artillery were given to PLA in Manchuria by Soviet army in 1946 and 1947. Most of them, of course, were weapons of defeated Japanese Kwantong Army, but it also said that there are some German weapons and even American weapons given to Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. 2: The most possible explaination: accroding to some sources, Soviet Union gave PLA a number of captured German weapons in 1950s for training purpose.

German assistance in the military realm was not limited to personnel training and reorganization, but also involved military hardware. According to von Seeckt, around eighty percent of China's weapons output was below par or unsuitable for modern warfare. Therefore, projects were undertaken to expand and upgrade existing armories along the Yangtze River and to create new arsenals and munitions plants. For example, the Hanyang Arsenal was reconstructed during 1935–1936 to bring its standards up to date. The arsenal was to produce Maxim machine guns, various 82 mm trench mortars and the Chiang Kai-shek rifle (中正式; Zhōngzhèng Shì), which was based on the German Karabiner 98k rifle. The Chiang Kai-shek and Hanyang 88 rifles remained as the predominant firearm used by Chinese armies throughout the war.[26] Another factory was established to produce gas masks, with plans to construct a mustard gas plant that was eventually scrapped. In May 1938, several arsenals were built in Hunan to produce 20mm, 37 mm, and 75 mm artilleries. In late 1936 a plant was built near Nanking to manufacture military optical equipment such as binoculars and sniper rifle scopes. Additional arsenals were built or upgraded to manufacture other weapons and ordnances, such as the MG-34, pack guns of different calibers, and even replacement parts for vehicles of the Leichter Panzerspähwagen series serving in the Chinese army. Several research institutes were also established under German auspices, such as the Ordnance and Arsenal Office, the Chemical Research Institute under the direction from IG Farben, and others. Many of these institutes were headed by German-returned Chinese engineers. In 1935 and 1936, China ordered a total of 315,000 of the M35 Stahlhelm, and also large numbers of Gewehr 88, 98 rifles and the C96 Broomhandle Mauser. China also imported other military hardware, such as a small number of Henschel, Junkers, Heinkel and Messerschmitt aircraft, some of them to be assembled in China, and Rheinmetall and Krupp howitzers, anti-tank and mountain guns, such as the PaK 37mm, as well as AFVs such as the Panzer I.

Hmmm. There are numerous web sites which mention a Chinese copy of the MG34. They could all be quoting the same incorrect information, which isn't uncommon among military history writers. However the rumor had to come from somewhere.

There is a picture on the web of a KMT Chinese armored car armed with a MG35. That's one possible explanation. Perhaps a careless historian saw that picture caption and thought they meant MG34, as the MG35 isn't terribly well known.